Drummonds veteran arrested for exploiting minor

A Drummonds man was arrested for sexually exploiting a minor, stemming from an undercover investigation conducted in Lauderdale County last month.

Authorities report Alex Sean Hawthorne, 25, was arrested on Jan. 31 after contacting what he believed was a 15-year-old girl.

Using Facebook, Hawthorne engaged in a casual conversation with an investigator posing as the teen for two weeks. The affidavit alleges he knew he was speaking with a person he believed to be a minor and sent photos of himself, without a shirt as well as of his genitals, to her.

He has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means.

According to his Facebook page, Hawthorne is an Army veteran, Munford High School graduate and has studied at L’Ecole Culinaire.